Cultural Highlights of Northern Egypt: Cairo & Siwa Oasis - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo, Sailing Adventure on the Nile

Welcome to Egypt! You'll spend the next nine days exploring Cairo and its labyrinth of ancient alleyways, standing in the shadow of the Giza pyramids, and uncovering desert secrets at the Siwa Oasis, but first—your driver is waiting for you at the airport in an air-conditioned vehicle. Watch as the bustling city center unfolds from the comfort of your luxury ride. Once you arrive at your accommodation, take a breather, drop your bags at the hotel, and then it's time to take to the streets. 

Your first excursion of the trip is a private sailing adventure by traditional boat, the felucca. Egyptians have been navigating the Nile River by felucca for thousands of years—since the time of the Pharaohs. Take in Cairo's glittering skyline, including the Cairo Tower, from aboard your sailboat, where you'll also have a delicious lunch complete with Egyptian cuisine and desserts. Cap off the experience by watching the sun dip below the horizon, gliding on the longest river in the world. 

Day 2: Pyramids Excursion & Camel Ride, Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum

No trip to Egypt would be complete without seeing the Pyramids, and today is entirely devoted to these last remaining Wonders of the Ancient World. Grab breakfast and meet your guide, then set off on an adventurous look at the Great Pyramid of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. You'll experience their imposing presence from the back of a camel, giving you a unique vantage point over the shifting sands. The Great Sphinx is also on the docket, along with a quick detour to Saqqara, an ancient Egyptian village and home to one of the world's oldest major stone structures, the Pyramid of Djoser. 

You'll be able to put everything you saw earlier in greater context this afternoon at the Grand Egyptian Museum. Over 5,000 years of art and relics are housed here. Your guide will help to decipher Egypt's intricate history piece by piece and you'll witness incredible sights like the mummy of King Tut and his spectacular treasure, buried with him over 3,000 years ago. See the impressive Hanging Obelisk alongside over 100,000 other artifacts, like the imposing statue of King Ramses II, so large that they built the museum's glass atrium around it.

Day 3: Visit the National Museum, Walking Tour of Islamic Cairo & Khan el-Khalili

Start day three with a visit to the Egyptian National Museum. Located in Old Cairo, this is the largest collection of Pharaonic artifacts in the entire world and the oldest museum in the Middle East. Incredible antiquities like the Narmer Palette, which helped to unite Lower and Upper Egypt, dozens of statues, and findings from several pharaoh's tombs are just a few of the exhibits you can look forward to seeing. You'll also make a pit stop at the Muhammed Ali Mosque, also known as the Alabaster Mosque, with its striking facade. 

Your tour continues in the afternoon to one of Cairo's most famous streets—El-Moez. Formally known as El Moez Le Din Allah, El-Moez Street is a concentrated collection of Medieval Islamic architecture with monuments like the Bab el-Fetouh and Bab el-Nasr, two ancient gates to the city. You'll continue unraveling Cairo's past with your guide, heading north to El-Darb el-Asfar, the ancient Islamic Quarter, before sifting through an explosion of color at the Khan el-Khalili bazaar—the perfect place to grab a souvenir.

Day 4: Walking Tour of Coptic Cairo & the Hanging Church

Dive deeper into Cairo's history today in a beautiful and ancient part of the city, Coptic Cairo. This neighborhood was a stronghold of early Christianity, and many of its monuments are pilgrimage sites. The Hanging Church, built atop a Roman fortress, and the Church of Saint Sergius and Bacchus (Abu-Serga), where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were said to have taken refuge, are the highlights of this excursion. There are actually seven cave churches in the area, similar to the Holy Cave beneath Abu-Serga, and you'll also get to visit the Monastery of St. Simon the Tanner and its amphitheater that once sat 20,000 spectators.

This evening, you'll end an already perfect day by witnessing a traditional dance performance by the Al-Tannoura Troupe. Get settled inside the Wekalet el-Ghouri Arts Center, built in the 16th century, and watch as the performance unfolds. If you've ever heard the term "whirling dervish," you'll soon understand how it came to be. Listen as skilled musicians play folk music and dancers twirl around the room in colorful costumes.

Day 5: Egyptian Cooking Class & Dinner with a Local Family

Today, you'll be immersed in Egyptian culture, spending the day with a local family. But this isn't just any household, you'll be hanging out with your guide's family members in a traditional home! Cook elbow to elbow with your hosts, learning how to make Egyptian classics. While the dishes may vary, you can expect to use ingredients like fresh veggies and plenty of spices! Cumin, mint, and saffron are just some of the fragrant seasonings you might encounter. End the meal with fresh fruit, like figs, pomegranates, and melon, and delicious Egyptian desserts, all served with tea and coffee. 

You've already seen most of Cairo's best sites so don't feel guilty if you want to spend the afternoon back at the hotel, relaxing by the pool. If your adventurous side isn't quite satiated, you can also keep exploring or visit another museum like the Gayer-Anderson Art Museum, built in the Ottoman era and housing an impressive collection of antiquities. Tomorrow, you'll leave Cairo in the dust on your way to the palm-fringed paradise of the Siwa Oasis.

Day 6: Transfer to Siwa via World War II Museum & Marsa Matruh

There's no hiding that today will be a long drive across the Western Desert. It will take you 10 hours to reach your ultimate destination of Siwa from Cairo, but it's well worth the trek and your private driver knows just how to break up the road trip. Your first pit stop is in El-Alamein, where you'll visit the El-Alamein War Museum. This area was once a battlefield as Germany vied for control of the Suez Canal. You'll learn more about Egypt's often-forgotten role in World War II and see debris from the battlefield itself in the form of paper paraphernalia, weapons, flags, and uniforms.

Make your way deeper into the desert, following the Mediterranean Sea, until you reach the resort town of Marsa Matruh. You'll grab lunch in a local restaurant and admire the pristine beaches and turquoise sea before making an abrupt turn into the heart of the desert. Before long, you'll start to notice an ocean of palm trees on the horizon. That's no mirage—this is the Siwa Oasis! Home to saltwater pools that rival the Dead Sea and distinctive mud brick houses, you'll be exploring this ancient city with your guide tomorrow.

Day 7: Visit the Siwa Museum, Local Temples & Bir Washed, Bedouin Dinner

Fuel up for the day with a quick breakfast—you'll need it for your adventures in Siwa today! Start off your introduction to this desert oasis in the Shali Old Town. Built entirely of mud and saltwater, most of these buildings have slowly fallen into ruin over time. You'll have a greater understanding of Siwa's historic importance after a visit to the Siwa Museum with your guide next. Thousands of years of Siwan history are revealed here through ceramics, jewelry, instruments, and even traditional wedding outfits. 

This afternoon, you'll head to the Oracle Temple, also known as the Amun Temple, where Alexander the Great sought confirmation from the oracle to find out if he was truly the son of Zeus. Siwa's sparkling jewel of the desert is up next, Cleopatra's Spring. You'll have lunch beside this azure pool before moving deeper into the desert to visit Bir Wahed. Tucked between two towering sand dunes in the Great Sand Sea, this hot spring is your final stop before dinner at a traditional Bedouin camp this evening. Tuck into a delicious feast under the stars before calling it a night.

Day 8: Drive to Cairo, Walking Food Tour

Enjoy your last desert sunrise, grab a quick breakfast, and hop in the car to make the long trek back to Cairo. You'll have plenty of time to admire the desert as it fades to Egypt's Mediterranean seaside resorts and back to the desert as you approach Cairo. 

Before you know it, you'll be right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the capital. Hit the ground running with a walking food tour of the city center. Follow in the footsteps of your food-focused guide, who knows the best places to grab fresh sugar cane juice, street food snacks like koshari (Egypt's national dish), and sweet treats like om ali (Egyptian bread pudding). You'll also learn about foodie traditions, local customs, and plenty of history along the way. 

Day 9: Depart Cairo

It's already your last day in Egypt, and it's time to head to Cairo Airport. Your driver will be waiting outside your accommodation to whisk you away to catch your flight. Wave goodbye to the desert and the Pyramids out your plane window. Until next time!

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